Every time President Edgar Lungu decides to hire, fire government officials or simply make a reshuffle, some names attract more attention than others.
In 2015, the appointment of diplomat and ex PS Emmanuel Mwamba to become ambassador extra ordinary and Plenipotentiary to South Africa made more news than any other ambassadorial appointment.
In the same vein when MMD President Felix Mutati was made Minister of Finance after the 2016 elections popularly won by President Lungu, more people spoke than perhaps when any other ministerial position after the Zambian leader won his first full five-year term convincingly was made.
But now, the appointment of two people has gotten more attention than any other appointment on Valentine’s day.
This is appointment or transfer of Dora Siliya who moves from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services and that of Margarete Dudu Mwanakatwe who takes over the Ministry of Finance from Mutati. Hon Mutati is new Works and Supply Minister, an equally influential portfolio.
But over and above, Dora’s elevation has gotten more tongues wagging perhaps than any other, today we try to peruse the reasons for Dora being such a person of interest or POI.
Without sounding dismissive of other appointees and more to the credit of President Lungu’s decision, we ask the question below:
Who is Dora Siliya and what does she bring to the table?
Dora was 35 when she first became a full cabinet minister in the government of President Levy Mwanawasa.
She was Minister of Transport and later Minister of Commerce and Trade. Of course, there was some controversy.
Dora also served as Minister of Education under President Rupiah Banda and moved from the Ministry of Energy, Agriculture now the big one, Chief Government Spokesman and Minister of Information under President Edgar Lungu.
To say that the Petauke MP has a horse-shoe on her back would be an understatement because those that know her say she is qualified for the job both professionally and academically.
After graduating from Kabulonga Girls in 1988, Dora attended UNZA where she obtained bachelors degree in Mass Communication before proceeding to do a Masters Degree in Development Economics from Cambridge in the UK.
The Cambridge Scholar has since slowed down on education but doubled up on being a consummate politician, devising a winning streak for her constituency Petauke where she became almost unbeatable.
This is perhaps one of the reasons she attracted President Edgar Lungu’s attention one of the first among equals.
She also has a rare mix of diplomacy, academia and politics that is rare among many in Zambia having served at the age of 32 as the Deputy Ambassador in Cairo, Egypt and also acted as Head of Mission at an arguably young age.
Chief Government Spokesman
When the appointments were made by President Lungu’s spokesman Amos Chanda on Valentines day, Dora was in Rome attending a high-level food meeting.
But those that know her within and without cabinet say that she will bring to the position of Chief Government Spokesman the following traits:
• Credibility
• Believability, a key ingredient in communication
• Better understanding of the ‘deep state’ having worked a total of six ministries so far
• A communications and economic developmental background that is crucial for a developing country like Zambia
In short President Lungu has effectively gotten himself a chief government spokesman that stop the fire fighting and ensure than she speaks convincingly without having to pull the head of state in the political fray.
It is an undeniable fact that after Given Lubinda, the important Ministry of Information has suffered a character chokehold that could be relieved by Dora.
Whether she succeeds or not nevertheless is all up to her since she understands the importance of an effective communication strategy.
Communicating issues that matter to the youth of Zambia and her chosen party and not personalities.
Let us as wait and watch the sixth political life of this interesting Zambian politician.
Read this article from the original source: Dora Siliya’s Valentines Appointment Gets Media Frenzy.